You may eventually notice your air conditioner isn't running as efficiently as it once was. Maybe you noticed a higher energy bill last month and thought nothing of it. What if it happens again and it keeps getting higher? These are good indications that there may be something wrong with your air conditioning system. It also indicates that you may be paying more money to run your AC than you really need to. The good news is that with an annual air conditioning service checkup, you can rest assured knowing you're not throwing money down the drain. Here's how you can save money by regularly maintaining your air conditioning unit.

Lower Repair Costs

Routine air conditioning service may be the best thing you can do to reduce or avoid costly repairs altogether. Typically, problems start small and become larger and more expensive over time. What's even worse is, if you ever need emergency after-hours service, you'll be paying a premium on any work done. When you opt for routine maintenance, a service technician can spot these problems and fix them before they turn into costly, unavoidable expenses.

Lower Energy Bills

Over time, dirt and mold can build up in your air conditioning system and force it to work harder to produce the same amount of cool air. According to the United States Department of Energy, you can save 20% to 40% of your cooling energy costs by replacing a system that's at least 10 years old with a newer one. Even for newer units, without regular cleaning, you'll expose your home to reduced air quality and your wallet to higher bills. Scheduling yearly maintenance, ideally at the beginning of summer, can assure you that you're running an efficient system that isn't draining your bank account.

Increased Lifespan

It's very unlikely for a perfect air conditioning system to just stop working for no reason. Parts can wear down, and in some systems, they can become misaligned or stop working correctly. It may not break the system at first, but as time goes on, these faulty parts can damage the air conditioning unit to a point beyond repair. If possible, it's always going to be cheaper to repair a part or two than to replace the entire AC unit.

It's simple to see why a yearly air conditioning service checkup will save you money in the long run. Without regular maintenance, you risk losing money due to the system becoming dirty and less efficient. You risk costly repairs that could have potentially been avoided. You're also almost certainly reducing the lifespan of your initial purchase. And worst yet, you likely won't even know you're paying more to run your AC until you get a bill that you can't dispute. All of this can be avoided with annual AC maintenance. For all of your air conditioning service needs, get in touch with the experts at Alabama Climate Control, Inc today. We would love to hear from you!